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Cougars Finish Thunderbird Invitational

TEMPE, Ariz. -Kevin Tucker led the Cougar men's golf team at the Thunderbird Invitational this weekend. The senior finished in a tie for 11th at the par-71, 7,057-yard Karsten Golf Course, ahead of nine players ranked in Golfweek's top 50.

After posting two rounds of 68 (-3) to open the tournament, Tucker fired a 3-over-par 74 during the final round Saturday to finish with a three-round total of 210 (-3). The senior out of Kennewick, Wash., notched the 25th top-25 finish of his career and the ninth this season. The two achievements are good enough to place him third and fourth on the WSU all-time lists, respectively.

The performance by Tucker also marked his sixth-consecutive top-25 finish, making him the first Cougar to earn six-straight since Jon Reehoorn and Dustin White did it during the 2001-02 season. Reehoorn finished with seven-straight while White notched 10 in-a-row.

Junior Nick Ellis and senior Austin Hurt finished in second for the Cougars with three-round totals of 221 (+8). Ellis moved up 14 spots during the final day after posting a 2-under 69.

Freshman Hank Frame and senior Nick Grigsby rounded out the WSU lineup. Frame finished with a tournament-total of 224 while Grigsby carded a 234.

The Cougars finished in a tie with Brigham Young for 14th, in what was as competitive a field the team has faced this season.

The men's squad will begin to prepare for the U.S. Intercollegiate in Stanford, Calif., which will begin Sunday, April 11. The three-day event will be the last tournament before the Cougars head back to Tempe, Ariz., for the Pac-10 Championships April 26-28.